PIA Press ReleaseThursday, January 19, 2012

CDO to hold “Looking Beyond Sendong” environmental forum

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 19 – The Xavier University Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana Student Volunteer Center (KKP-SVC), in partnership with the Central Student Government (XU-CSG), will be organizing a forum entitled, “Looking Beyond Sendong: Building Resilience and Adaptation for Cagayan de Oro City” with the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection, Sec. Juan Nereus “Neric” O. Acosta as the Main Resource Speaker.

The forum is scheduled this January 21, 10:00 a.m. at the XU Science Center Drypond. Community leaders and NGO workers, among others, are expected to attend.

Likewise, Xavier University also invites everyone to take part in this learning opportunity and calls on the public to take one concrete step towards Environmental Protection and Sustainability by raising awareness on the issue at hand.

“Despite of the recent calamity that hit the city, we choose to be optimistic. We see this as an opportunity to work for a much brighter and safer Cagayan de Oro City and working for this future begins today,” said Victoria Melissa C. Pulido, Faculty Program Officer, KKP-Social Involvement Office.

It has been a month since tropical storm Sendong hit here, which, as of the latest count, has already claimed nearly 1,200 lives with an estimated 1,000 individuals still missing.

She said what happened is a “nightmare” for Kagayanons; and much as the people would like to take things lightly, however, in hindsight, the disastrous impact could have been mitigated had the public equipped themselves for eventualities like this, in the face of the worsening effects of climate change.

“After the tragedy, people recognized that it is our responsibility to help rehabilitate our city and respond to the greater call of working for environmental protection and sustainability,” Pulido said.

She said the forum is the youth's contribution to further help the advocacy of Environmental Protection and Sustainability and encourage others to take part in saving what’s left of our environment. (XU/PIA-10)